Optical Remote Sensing at the U.S. Open

Were you able to enjoy watching the U.S. Open golf tournament in Pinehurst, North Carolina this June? Whether you were lucky enough to see it in person, or watch it on TV, it was a sight to behold. The world's best golfers converged with 250,000 ticket holders, 5,500 volunteers, and countless professionals in the tiny hamlet of Pinehurst.

Did you know that ARCADIS played a role in the U.S. Open?

We provided the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR) with a system to measure toxins in the outside air. ARCADIS has developed a unique (patented) system that measures air pollution coming from industrial plants, or in times of emergency from accidental spills or terrorist attacks where harmful chemicals may be released into the air. Known as an Optical Remote Sensing system (ORS), it emits a beam of harmless light that travels up to a half mile, then bounces it back off a mirror. Pollutants and toxins affect the light beam in such a way that sophisticated electronics can tell what compounds are in the air and in what concentrations. NCDENR set up our instrument near the main gate to Pinehurst No. 2 golf course and had it "looking for trouble" in an area that spanned much of the property facing the main access road (Hwy 5). It stretched over the practice driving range to the clubhouse near the 18th hole. Luckily, no toxins were measured and state employees were pleased that there were no "incidents" and the equipment worked flawlessly.

Additional Applications

Optical Remote Sensing-Radial Plume Mapping (ORS-RPM) is a technique that can be used to provide real-time on-site information on emissions of fugitive gases from many different types of area sources.

The ORS-RPM technique can be applied to a variety different area sources, including agricultural operations, industrial facilities and landfills. Additionally, the ORS-RPM technique can be used in the area of Homeland Security to assess exposure to chemical and biological agents.